As alluded to in our prior post, the cemetery’s ability to deliver burial rights and merchandise prior to death complicates the preneed transaction. In a post, we labeled this the ‘bucket factor’ (Cemetery Preneed Oversight: the bucket factor). In addition to burial spaces, cemeteries can deliver markers, monuments, vases, urns, outer containers and vaults prior to the purchaser’s death. While not the norm, cash flow needs and rising granite and bronze costs may dictate that more cemeteries accelerate deliveries of merchandise. In some situations, services (opening and closing, and inscriptions or engravings) could be the only ‘items’ left to be delivered after death.